Starling Community Services

In September 2024, we installed TWO Smilezones at Starling Community Services in Cambridge, ON! The Smilezones will be in the 2nd floor Kids Play Area and Teen Gaming Room.

Thank you to our generous donors Tim Hortons Cambridge and the Patey-Skropolis Family. 

“Supporting the creation of these Smilezones is incredibly meaningful for our family and our Tim Hortons community,” said Johnny Patey on behalf of the Patey-Skropolis Family. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed through the Smile Cookie Campaign, helping bring joy and comfort to children and families at Starling Community Services. It’s inspiring to see how a simple act of kindness can positively impact young lives.”

“We are thrilled to bring these new Smilezones to Starling Community Services, creating bright and welcoming spaces for children and families in Cambridge,” said David Clanachan, Smilezone Foundation Board Member. “Our goal is to provide an environment that brings joy and comfort to families during challenging times, and this would not have been possible without the incredible support of the Patey-Skropolis Family and the generous Tim Hortons community. We’re excited to see the positive impact these Smilezones will have on children’s lives in this community.”

To learn more about this project check out the

press release: Click Here

St Joseph's General Hospital Elliot Lake



In November 2024, we installed THREE Smilezones at St Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake! The Smilezones are in the ER playroom, Complex Care Activity Room and Pediatric Day Surgery Room.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Elliot Lake community, over $30,000 was raised through the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign and local donors like Elliot Lake Retirement Living.

“When the people of Elliot Lake come together, the impact is truly remarkable,” said Christopher Piel, Chief Financial

Officer at SJGHEL. “As someone who is still relatively new to the area, it’s been inspiring to witness such a strong sense of unity. Seeing firsthand what Elliot Lake is capable of fills me with excitement for what lies ahead. I do not doubt that our community will continue to achieve amazing things.”

“We are so proud to see the impact of our community’s generosity come to life through these beautiful Smilezones,”

said Erin Brunelle, representative of Tim Hortons Elliot Lake. “The success of the Smile Cookie campaign is a direct result of our community coming together to support important local initiatives. We want to sincerely thank everyone who purchased a Smile Cookie—your kindness has helped create spaces that bring comfort, joy, and healing to children and families right here in Elliot Lake.”

To learn more about this project

check out the press release Click Here

Centre de réadaptation MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre

In November 2024, we installed SIX Smilezones at MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre! The Smilezones are in the Entrance, Reception Waiting Rooms (x2), Breastfeeding Room, Evaluation Room and Hallway.

Thank you to our generous donor, Habilitas Foundation, Adair Family Foundation, Fondation Mirella et Lino Saputo, and Opération Enfant Soleil for making this project possible!

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and expertise that went into creating the new spaces at the Pediatrics Technical Aids Service department,” says Filomena Novello, Associate Director for Rehabilitation and Multidisciplinary Services at the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, who oversees this department at LLMRC. “This beautiful renovation has created a vibrant and welcoming environment that fosters inclusivity and accessibility, and we are very proud to welcome our clients into such an engaging and joyful environment. We feel very lucky to have the Habilitas Foundation working on our behalf to bring projects like this to life.”

“We are thrilled to unveil our first-ever Smilezone in the province of Quebec, marking an important milestone for our foundation,” said Scott Bachly, Co-Founder of Smilezone Foundation. “This build would not have been possible without the generosity of Habilitas Foundation donors and partners, whose support has allowed us to create a bright, inclusive space at the Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre. By transforming this reception area, we hope to bring smiles and comfort to the many children and families who will benefit from these new resources.”

To learn more about this project

check out the press release Click Here

Sensory Development

Sensory play is vital for child development, helping children explore, learn, and build skills like language, problem-solving, and memory. It also offers comfort and distraction during hospital stays, easing anxiety with fun, therapeutic activities.

Your donation will help provide sensory items like:

• Tactile panels
• Sand tables
• Projectors
• Bubble tubes

Art & Music 

Art and music aid healing for all ages and abilities. The murals in Smilezones create a comforting space, while items like magnetic whiteboards, musical instruments, and Bluetooth speakers let children express themselves and explore their creativity during tough times.



Your donation will help provide art and music items like:

• Therapeutic Murals
• Magnetic White Boards
• Bluetooth Speakers
• Musical Instruments

Comforts of Home

Having comforts of home can ease the hospital experience for children and their families. Simple touches like a space for home-cooked meals or a warm chair to rock children can make a big difference. Thanks to your generosity, a Smilezone will bring a sense of home to sterile healthcare spaces, supporting families year-round, not just during the holidays.

Your donation will help provide art and music items like:

• Medical Play Toys
• Rocking Chair
• Comfortable Furniture
• Family Meal Equipment
• Fish Tank Aquarium

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps kids build strength, improve coordination, and reduce pain. In Smilezone physiotherapy spaces, we provide tools like crash mats, yoga mats, walking trails, mood lights, and privacy screens to make therapy fun, safe, and effective for children of all abilities.

Your donation will help provide art and music items like:

• Mood Light Spheres for the Pool
• Crash Mats & Yoga Mats for the Gymnasium
• Walking Trail Set for balancing work in the Gymnasium
• Privacy Screens for the Gymnasium

Technology

Technology plays a key role in children's healing and development. In Smilezones, we use tools like iPads for communication and the GestureTek floor projection system to promote motor skills, coordination, creativity, and social interaction.

These fun, interactive features benefit children of all abilities.

Your donation will help provide art and music items like:

• iPads
• GestureTek Interactive Floor Projector
• TV’s with Xbox and Blu-Ray player
• Bubble Hockey Table